Using cover crops in your organic garden can significantly improve soil health, control weeds, and enhance biodiversity. For gardeners across the Front Range, daikon radish, Austrian winter peas, and oats are excellent choices due to their adaptability to the local climate and their soil-enriching properties.
Daikon Radish: This deep-rooted radish is a powerhouse for breaking up compacted soils. Its long taproots penetrate deep into the ground, loosening the soil and enhancing water infiltration. This is particularly beneficial in metro Denver, where soils can often be heavy and compacted. As the daikon radish decomposes, it leaves behind organic matter, enriching the soil with nutrients and improving its structure. Additionally, it helps suppress weeds by outcompeting them for light, water, and nutrients.
Planting: Sow daikon radish seeds in late summer to early fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost. Plant seeds ½ inch deep and 6 inches apart in rows spaced 12 inches apart.
Care: Daikon radishes are relatively low-maintenance. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin seedlings to 3-6 inches apart once they’re a few inches tall to prevent overcrowding.
Spring Harvest: If left to winterkill, the dead radish plants will decompose, enriching the soil. For a spring harvest, pull the radishes before they flower, usually in early spring. Use the harvested radishes in your kitchen, and let the remaining plants decompose in place to benefit the soil.
Austrian Winter Peas: These legumes are superb nitrogen fixers, which means they can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, naturally enriching the soil. In Denver’s cooler climate, Austrian winter peas grow well in the fall and early spring, providing a lush green cover that protects the soil from erosion. They also offer the added benefit of being a habitat for beneficial insects, fostering a healthy garden ecosystem. Once they have grown, they can be turned under to add organic matter and further boost soil fertility.
Planting: Sow Austrian winter peas in late summer to early fall. Broadcast the seeds at a rate of 2-3 pounds per 1,000 square feet and lightly rake them into the soil. Alternatively, plant seeds 1-2 inches deep and 2 inches apart in rows spaced 6-8 inches apart.
Care: Water regularly to keep the soil moist but not saturated. Austrian winter peas are relatively hardy but may benefit from a light mulch to protect them from extreme cold.
Spring Harvest: In early spring, before the peas start to flower, cut them down at the base. You can use the tender shoots in salads. Leave the plant material on the soil surface as mulch or incorporate it into the soil to add organic matter and nitrogen.
Jerry Oats: As a versatile cover crop, oats are excellent for both erosion control and organic matter addition. They are particularly effective when grown in the fall, as they provide a thick ground cover that holds soil in place during winter storms. Oats can thrive in Denver’s cool seasons, offering a fast-growing cover that suppresses weeds. When oats die back in the winter, they leave a mulch that protects the soil surface and slowly decomposes, adding valuable organic material.
Planting: Sow oat seeds in late summer to early fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost. Broadcast the seeds at a rate of 2-3 pounds per 1,000 square feet and lightly rake them into the soil to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
Care: Water the oats regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist. Oats are relatively hardy but may need protection from extreme cold. A light mulch can help insulate the plants.
Spring Harvest: Oats will winterkill in Denver’s cold climate, creating a natural mulch. In spring, you can either leave the oat residue on the surface to suppress weeds and retain moisture or incorporate it into the soil to add organic matter.
DUG Recommends: We recommend using our pre-mixed bags of cover crop seed. When used together, Daikon radish, Austrian winter peas, and Jerry oats create a synergistic effect that maximizes soil health benefits. Planting these cover crops in rotation or as a mix can help create a resilient garden environment, improve soil structure, enhance fertility, and support beneficial wildlife, all while keeping your garden organic and sustainable.
These seed varieties can, however, be planted individually to meet the specific needs of your site. For instance, a gardener dealing with very low nitrogen levels might plant only austrian peas, or a gardener whose soil is loose rather than compacted might choose to omit Daikon radish from their mix.
In our pre-mixed bags, you will find about equal parts of all three seed varieties. As with each individual seed, we recommend broadcasting the mix at the rate of 2-3 lbs per 1,000 square feet, or 1oz per 25 square feet.
